St. Landry democrat., 1887-11-26
FRANKLIN PARISH,

At the mass meeting held at Oakley. Frank
| lin parish. on Nov. IS, Colonel Bowden, tn,
| president, introduced
| GOVERNOR NICHOLS
| by saying: "Ladles and Gentlemen-I will
| now introduce to you Governor Francis T
| Nichols. Applause. He needs no eulogy
| at nv HANDS; his name and fame are too vel
| known to the people OF Louisiana; his life is
| replete with noble and honorable deeds, and
| he Is man on whom Loaulslanians can rely
| and who, If called to the chief executive
| chair, viii earn renewed credit for himself
| ana honorablY serve the Democratic party
| Applause.
General Nichols, in conversational tone
| discussed the issues of the canvass. He
| answered very fully the charge of African
| iZatlon; he referred to the appointments OF
| Republicans in 1877 and the motives and
| reasons which brought these appointments
| about; he called attention to the fact that
some OF the very men who were now ex.
pressing themselves as opposed to those ap-
polntmeuts had voted for their con flrmation.
He stated the reasons why he appeared be-
fore the people. and criticised the pretepsion
that 1t was undemocratlc for q candidate for
governor to appear before the Democrats of
the state and present
THE ISSUES OF THE CAMPAIGN.
He stated that there was broad distinc-
ton between Democratic office and the party
itself; that If the doctrine that the Demo
cratic party was subject to criticism when
he sought denomination was once estab-
lished a great harm would come to that
party. He said that If the fact of holding an
office at the hands of the Democratic party
was to put the othce-holder in such position
as 30 shield him from criticism, whatever
may have been his course when in office,
that then such doctrine would furnish the
most conclusive reason why an incumbent
should not be renomlnated, and was in itself
the strongest article against the creation of
the third term.
In discussing the question of personalism
he said that the charge of persOnalism de-
pended not only upon the nature of the ap-
pointment, but in the manner in which the
appointments had been suggested. He de-
clared that in many Of the parishes he mad
visited he had found the general impression
prevailing that one or two or
FEW MEN
in the parish controlled all the avenues of
approach to the executive, and controlled
the distribution OF the patronage Of the gov
ernOT.
He described the effect of this line of con-
duct on the party. He said that II he were
nominated and elected he would consider it
his duty not to be controlled by one or two
men in any parish and to endeavOr by every
means in his power to ascertain and execute
the will of the Democrats of every parish:
that II he was elected there would be, as 1t
were, no lieutenant governor in every parish
controlling parochial affairs and controlling
him in his executive duties, and that ne would
endeayor TO the very best OF his ability to
conform 10 the wishes of the majority of the
Democratic voters of the parish without
reference to the claims OF particular iudi.
viduals.
On the subject of
POLICE JURORS,
he said that the power to appoint police
jurors in the governor was an awful respon-
slbility, and the motives which gave rise for
the Judgment in the governor he knew: that
OF one thing he was perfectly clear, that il
such power was to be lodged In the governor
that at least the right which gave the govern
or the power to remove at pleasure should
be restrained, SO as to prevent this official
from being at the beck and call of the execu-
tive.
He said he was unusterably opposed to the
election law by which commissioners of
election were appointed by the returning
officers.
ON THE FINANCIAL QUESTION,
General Nichols discussed and questioned
the statement which had been made with
reference to the last amendment of the
interest Of the state debt. He declared he
had favored that amendment and that ne
was in favor of any and every measure look
ing to the protection and elevation of the
public faith and public credit.
In the course OF his speaking Mr.. Gilbert
asked Governor Nichols whether he would
support the nominee Of the convention.
The governor said why, my friend. GER
tainly / will. That ia the Democratic doc
trine, and have answered the question in
the affirmative several times already, am
q Democrat, and will of course support the
nominee of the convention"
Governor Nichols speech was received
with great and marked attention, and he was
frequently interrupted by applause
After the cessation of the speaking Mr., r.
B. Gilbert called the organization for the
formation of q Nichols club, witch had nj
ready been put en- foot by DIR. Griffin aua
Dther distinguished representarty es OF tsse
ward 3~.ssJ
Aftex - etias the party wAs drAven Is q
~ GilEin ais residence, Will axasy